Ten factors that should be taken into account when deciding the composition of the Bridge Team
STCW Chapter VIII outlines the factors the Master should consider to ensure a proper lookout can be continuously maintained;
- Ships operation requirements, activities and anticipated manoeuvres.
- Traffic density
- Navigating in or near a TSS or other routing measures.
- Visibility, state of weather and sea.
- Fitness for duty of officers or crew on watch.
- Knowledge and professional competence officers and crew.
- Onboard emergency, or other activities such as radio communications.
- Status bridge instruments, including alarm systems.
- Anticipated steering mode
- Design and layout of the bridge.
- Configuration of the bridge which might inhibit a member of the watch from detecting by sight or hearing an external development.
- Any other relevant standard, procedure or guidance relating to watch keeping arrangements and fitness of duty which has been adopted by the Organisation.
Define Masters role as part of the Bridge Team
- Overall command
- Has oversight over whole operation
- Provides guidance where neccessary
- Manages internal communication with ER
- Ensures company BRM procedures are followed
Define OOW (Coning) role as part of the Bridge Team
- Has the Con
- Primary focus is monitoring traffic and taking action if required as per the rules
- Steering the ship, only the officer with con should give helm orders to the helmsman
- Uses close loop communication and thinking aloud to keep the other bridge team members aware of his intentions
Define OOW (Co-Nav) role as part of the Bridge Team
- Support officer with Con in their decision making.
- Fix vessels position
- Manage external communications
- Manage checklists and logbook
- Long range scanning to advise on developing situations
Define Helmsman role as part of the Bridge Team
- Executing the officer with the Con orders. - Informing OOW with any difficulties with maintaining heading
Define lookouts roles as part of the bridge team
- Reporting objects as they become visible.
- Checking vessels quarters at regular intervals
- Listening on Bridge wing for fog signals (RV)
In what circumstances is it appropriate for the OOW to be the sole look out on the bridge?
- In clear daylight conditions, when the MASTER deems is safe.
- Master should take into account the following factors listed on ‘composition of bridge team’ card as as well as;
- Distractions that stop the OOW from maintaining a proper lookout e.g. operation of GMDSS, navigational maintenance e.g. logbook, chart corrections and maintenance of bridge equipment
- Assistance must be immediately available to be summoned to the bridge when any change in the situation so requires.
How are regulations from the IMO or other bodies brought into UK Law?
- New laws are brought into the Uk as Acts (e.g. Merchant Shipping Act). However, when only a small alteration to an existing act is necessary these can be created by ministers in the form of a Statutory Instrument (S.I.)
- An S.I. will give in detail the rules or regulations coming into force. These rules or regulations will usually stem from legislation created by an international body e.g. SOLAS from the IMO
- UK registered ships will be informed of the change and often a MSN will be created in a more readable format by the MCA.
What is the purpose of a VTS?
Where are they implemented?
- Improve efficiency of vessel traffic movement
- Protection of marine environment
- Improve safety of life at sea
- Improve safe navigation
- Respond to developing unsafe situations
- VTS are implemented in areas of high traffic density or PSSA
Outline the Availability, accuracy and possible errors of GNSS
Availability
- Available 24/7
- Less satellites available for fix at higher Lats
- For DGPS, ground station needs to be within range of vessel
Accuracy
- ± 25m and DGPS ±5m
Possible Errors
- Jamming
- Clock error
- Multi-path error
- Solar storms
- Ionospheric Errors
- Tropospheric Errors
- HDOP (indicator of reliability), High = bad, Low = good
Outline the Availability, Accuracy and Possible Errors of Celestial Navigation
Availability
- Time of day
- Celestial body and horizon must both be visible
Accuracy
- 1-2 miles at best
Possible Errors
- Sextant errors
- Unreliable horizon
- Incorrect celestial body used
- For running fix, the reliability of course and speed data
- Abnormal refraction
When might a VTS need to respond to an unsafe situation?
- Observes an unsafe developing navigational situation and deems it necessary to intervene
- Requested by a ship or pilot
- Coordinating a pre planned navigational manoeuvre.
What is a Local Port Services (LPS)?
- For Ports where a full VTS is not required
- MAIN DIFFERENCE from VTS, LPS is not required to have the ability/equipment to respond to developing traffic situations
- MAIN PURPOSE, improve port safety and co-ordination of port services
Information to be reported to VTS
- Name
- Position
- Course and speed
- Hazardous cargo
- Arrival port
- Departure port
- Deficiencies
Key Points for Interaction
- Shear
- Reducing speed
- Tugs
- squat
- Turning circles
- Bank affect
